Former NASA chief says United States likely to lose second lunar space race
6 days ago
- #Space Policy
- #NASA
- #Artemis Program
- Trump administration proposed changes to NASA's Artemis Program, including terminating the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft after Artemis III.
- The White House also sought to cancel the Lunar Gateway, a planned Moon-orbiting space station, to focus on 'direct-to-surface' exploration.
- The administration aimed to use lower-cost commercial rockets and allocate NASA's resources toward lunar surface activities, such as a lunar base.
- Congress opposed these changes, adding $6.7 billion in funding to continue SLS, Orion, and Gateway development.
- Sen. Ted Cruz warned against canceling SLS and Gateway, citing already purchased hardware and lack of commercial alternatives.